Downsize Dilemma

[rob4001]

Hi I'm looking to downsize my PC foot print to a smaller mATX cube case rather than a large tower.
My problem being I currently have a P67 full ATX board with a 2500K. Now my question is if I'm changing the motherboard do I just get a z77 matx which is the cheaper option or do I go with haswell which is a different socket, flog my 2500k and spend a £100 odd extra getting a z87 and haswell chip?

Thanks

[ik9000]

if you do sell I would consider taking it off your hands btw your system spec must be out of date!

[ik9000]

actually I think I will have the same problem... my motherboard is a generation too old for the 2500k. I really stuffed up there.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

I would get a Z77 based mATX or mini-ITX motherboard TBH.

This seems to be OK for overclocking:

http://www.dabs.com/products/gigabyt...rds&origin=pla

This is quite a high end motherboard and is much cheaper than normal:

http://www.cclonline.com/product/783...board/MBD0359/

[scaryjim]

1) I don't see Haswell being a worthy upgrade from an i5 2500k, personally: follow CAT's advice and grab an mATX/mITX Z77 board.

2) read the measurment specs of any new case you consider very carefully. A lot of mATX, and even some mITX, cases are actually bigger in footprint* (and sometimes in absolute size) than ATX mid-tower cases. I'm often shocked by just how big some of the cases people suggest are when looking for an SFF system. This is particularly true of cube cases. You need to consider if it's worth the hassle and expense for the amount of room you will (or won't) be saving...


*when I say footprint, I mean the area a case covers when it's sat on a desk/the floor. I'm assuming that's what you mean too. I you mean total volume, an mATX case is likely to be somewhat smaller, but it's still worth chekcing the actual size as there is often very little saving...

[rob4001]

1) I don't see Haswell being a worthy upgrade from an i5 2500k, personally: follow CAT's advice and grab an mATX/mITX Z77 board.

2) read the measurment specs of any new case you consider very carefully. A lot of mATX, and even some mITX, cases are actually bigger in footprint* (and sometimes in absolute size) than ATX mid-tower cases. I'm often shocked by just how big some of the cases people suggest are when looking for an SFF system. This is particularly true of cube cases. You need to consider if it's worth the hassle and expense for the amount of room you will (or won't) be saving...


*when I say footprint, I mean the area a case covers when it's sat on a desk/the floor. I'm assuming that's what you mean too. I you mean total volume, an mATX case is likely to be somewhat smaller, but it's still worth chekcing the actual size as there is often very little saving...

Thanks guys I will check out the gigabyte sniper. I shall heed your advice scaryjim. I did look at how big some so called sff cases and some do seem quite big! I've never understood the fetish of cases manufactures and trying stuff as many hard drive bays in as possible even to sff!

[scaryjim]

Well, I'm a bit of an officianado of SFF cases, and when I choose to make a small PC I want it *small* I've seen lots of mITX build threads recommending cases that are much bigger than either of my SFF mATX builds. I guess cases and sizes are a matter of taste...

[herulach]

Have you considered a 'desktop' form factor OP? If its desk space thats at a premium then using the dead room under your monitor might be a decent option. It'd save you having to buy a new mobo as well.

[scaryjim]

ATX desktop cases tend to be very deep - unless you've got a big desk I wouldn't recommend it as an option. I've got one (AOpen H360b) and on most desks it barely leaves enough room to get your keyboard in front of it.

[ik9000]

Well, I'm a bit of an officianado of SFF cases, and when I choose to make a small PC I want it *small* I've seen lots of mITX build threads recommending cases that are much bigger than either of my SFF mATX builds. I guess cases and sizes are a matter of taste...

how do you rate the Bitfenix prodigy?

[scaryjim]

Big

I guess its one advantage is that it isn't hugely deep, but otherwise it's a very similar size to the Fractal Design Core 1000, significantly larger than an Antec NSK1380 (which is slightly wider, but a lot shorter and shallower), and twice the volume of the H360b. All of those take mATX boards, giving you a much wider choice of platforms.

I think any time you think about a small computer you have to ask yourself how important size is. For me size is important: that's why my desktop has a Phenom II 905e and a low profile 7750, and my HTPC has an mATX board with an AMD A-series APU. I care about the size of those systems, so I'll make do with low power components, integrated graphics and a just a couple of drive bays. If you need all the hardware, you're not going to get a small PC - just a smaller one. And at that point, are the compromises you're making (mITX v mATX, for instance) really worth it?